Manager Maknae (ChaeTzu / ChaeYu)

Chapter 3. Elephants Are So Attractive. And, lions too.

The rest of the week went by fast as Tzuyu found herself looking forward to going to the zoo with her new friends. On Saturday morning, Tzuyu woke up at the ripe time of 10AM. Funnily enough, she agreed to meet the others at 11 so she quickly brushed her teeth, changed out of her clothes, and put on some light make up. She took the bus and walked to the café where she agreed to meet Chaeyoung, Momo, and Mina. When she arrived, the spotted Chaeyoung at a table of four in a booth on the other side of the room. Chaeyoung was clad in a denim vest, a gray hoodie and jeans. Her blonde hair was tied up and her face behind her rounded glasses appeared to be bare, without any make up. This is the first time she's ever seen the shorter girl without make up and Tzuyu honestly thought she couldn't be more attractive...but there she was, sitting there, being even more attractive.

"Tzu? Are you okay?" Chaeyoung asked, her eyebrows knit tightly with concern.

"Huh? What? Yes, sorry, I zoned out while walking," Tzuyu blurted out and the older girl just laughed. 

Chaeyoung gestured for her to slide in next to her and she obliged. They talked a little bit about random things and somehow Tzuyu was making her friend laugh. She didn't know what for or why or how...but she did know she was proud of herself for doing so. Seeing the little dimple appear in her friend's cheek appear when she smiled and laughed made her insides flip and her heart flutter. If Tzuyu knew better, she'd admit that she might have a little crush on her new friend.

But she won't...

After ten minutes, their two unnies, Mina and Momo, arrived. They apologized saying they were stuck in traffic and they let it slide despite their suspicions. Momo was wearing a red crew neck sweater and sweatpants. Mina was wearing a blue tie-dye hoodie and black leggings. 

"Hey, Tzuyu, I just realized I've never seen you wear glasses before," Mina noted as they ate some pastries and drank coffee.

"Oh, yeah, I mostly use contacts," Tzuyu said as she pushed the circular spectacles further up her nose.

"They look really good on you..." Chaeyoung said and Tzuyu could have sworn she was blushing but she couldn't tell with the bright lighting in the café. 

Tzuyu herself blushed at the compliment and the reaction of her smaller friend. She didn't really think much of what to wear; she was wearing a black crew neck sweatshirt, faded blue jeans, and Skechers. The atmosphere between the two became thick and tense, their Unnies could sense it but just watched in amusement.

"So...um, uh...y-ya like jazz?" Tzuyu cleared her throat and then mentally slapped herself in the forehead. The others burst out laughing at the random meme question. 

After the quartet finished their brunch, they took a train all the way to the zoo just outside of the city. When they got there they gawked at all of the kinds of animals that the zoo had. Tzuyu learned through depth of Mina's love for penguins...and it was very deep, endless even. They took pictures at exhibits, funny photos, scared photos, and regular pretty photos. The zoo had a mini theater like place that showed videos and short documentaries on animals that the zoo didn't have but thought were very much interesting. Some of those animals included elephants, hippos, and rhinos. 

"I like all animals but my favorites are tigers and lions," Chaeyoung smiled, and mimicked the growl of a lion which Tzuyu snorted at.

"You really are a baby beast, huh?" Tzuyu teased and the shorter girl punched her shoulder. It was dark in the theater room but Tzuyu's amusement shone through her eyes, not just the reflections of the giant screen. 

"How about you, huh? What's your favorite animal?" Chaeyoung asked.

"I really like dogs...but I gotta say...cows," Tzuyu said in a matter-of-factly tone which made Chaeyoung laugh.

"Cows?" She asked, smiling at the taller girl genuinely curious of her reasons.

"They cry right? They have feelings and they're cute," Tzuyu said in messy Korean, trying to find words to properly describe what she feels, "When I was younger, I wanted to raise one. I never saw a cow in person until I was eighteen but I really liked them."

"Aw, that's cute..." Chaeyoung smiled and the two stared into each other's eyes...until the sound of an elephant blasted through the speakers, causing the both of them to laugh. "Do you like elephants?"

"I think elephants are so attractive," Tzuyu turned back to the other girl who was now staring at the screen, "And, lions too."

She didn't really know why she added the last part about lions but she smiled at the smaller girl who turned to her and smiled at her reply. Her mind was blank and all she could focus on at the moment was Chaeyoung...she didn't even notice how fast and hard her heart was beating.